Rangers’ road to the UEFA Champions League group stage has been laid and it begins with a familiar and formidable foe. The Scottish Premiership runners-up have been drawn against Panathinaikos in the second qualifying round, setting up a high-stakes European clash in late July.
The tie will mark Russell Martin’s first competitive match as Rangers head coach, and it’s far from a gentle introduction. The first leg will be played at Ibrox on 22 or 23 July, with the return fixture in Athens the following week.
A Challenging Draw for Rangers
Despite being seeded, Rangers received arguably the toughest draw possible among their potential opponents. Panathinaikos, runners-up in Greece’s Super League last season, were managed by seasoned coach Rui Vitória—former boss of Egypt and Benfica.
Though Panathinaikos are ranked 111th in the UEFA club coefficients, 86 places below Rangers, their European pedigree and recent form make them a serious threat. They finished just behind Olympiakos in a fiercely competitive league campaign and have consistently performed well against Scottish opposition.
European History Between Rangers and Panathinaikos
This isn’t the first meeting between the two sides:
- In the 2003 Champions League group stage, Panathinaikos beat Rangers 3-1 at Ibrox and drew 1-1 at home.
- The last encounter came in the 2007-08 UEFA Cup round of 32. Rangers advanced on away goals after a goalless draw in Glasgow and a 1-1 draw in Athens.
- The Greek side has a solid record against Scottish clubs: unbeaten in 90 minutes across seven matches, with four wins and three draws—most recently easing past Motherwell 5-0 on aggregate in 2012.
What Lies Ahead
Both clubs are chasing a return to the Champions League group stage after long absences. Panathinaikos last reached it in 2010-11, and they fell short last season after early exits in the Europa League and Conference League.
Rangers, meanwhile, suffered an early Champions League qualifying loss to Dynamo Kyiv last season, but managed a respectable Europa League quarter-final run under interim boss Barry Ferguson after Philippe Clement’s departure.
Should Rangers defeat Panathinaikos, two more qualifying rounds will follow before they can book a place in the newly formatted Champions League league stage.
Elsewhere in Qualifying
- Linfield (Northern Ireland) and Shelbourne (Republic of Ireland) will battle in the first qualifying round. The winner will face Qarabag of Azerbaijan.
- Welsh champions The New Saints face KF Shkendija of North Macedonia in their first round. If successful, they’ll meet either FCSB (Romania) or Inter Club d’Escaldes (Andorra).
What’s Next?
The countdown is on. Russell Martin must now prepare his squad to hit the ground running in what promises to be a hotly contested European tie. With Panathinaikos boasting form, experience, and a desire to return to Europe’s top table, Rangers will need to deliver a statement performance—starting at Ibrox.
Stay tuned for squad updates, ticket details, and pre-match coverage as the UEFA Champions League qualifiers heat up.
Written By Joe Brens
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